Can closing and marking machine



P. W. FLEISCHER. CAN CLOSING AND MARKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1915. 1,366,564. Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

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APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, I915.

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APPLICATION FILED DEC- 2,1915; 1,866,564, Patented Jan. 25,1921.

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UNITED STATES NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAN COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PAUL w. FLEISCHER, or

PATENT OFFICE.

CAN CEOSING AND MARKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Original application filed December 1, 1915, Serial No. 64,494. Divided and this application filed December 2, 1915.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL \V. Fnnlsorinn, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Can Closing and Marking Machines, of which the following is a specification. I

The invention relates to can closing ma chines, and particularly to such as employ a marking or'stamping means for impressing dates, characters or identifying marks on the can ends just before they are seamed to the can body. This machine saves the keeping in storage of the necessary variety of preliminarily marked can ends, performs the marking and closing in one handling and operation, and insures that the closed cans are properly identified with the date of closing, name of packer, character of goods, or other desired data.

The invention has for its object to provide 'means whereby unmarked can ends may be successively cut out and delivered from a stack of such can ends, first to a stamp or marker and thence to a seaming head, without loss of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby, and in cotiperation with the marking means, the can end feeding is regulated and controlled by the passage of the can body along its track to the seaming station, so that if no can body is in position to be closed the feeding of the marked can ends to the seaming head willtemporarily and automatically cease.

A further object of the invention is to combine the can end feeding and marking devices with the can end closing mechanism, so that the said'fe'eding devices supply the can ends to the marking mechanism and also sub sequently place the can ends accurately under the seaming head. The said feeding devices have such movement as to permit a delay or station where the marking takes place, which also gives time for the operation of the seaming head or other can closing mechanism.

In the preferred embodiment of the improved marking mechanism it is combined in a can closing machine as a part of the Serial No. 64,743.

same, and so as to be capable of being readily thrown out of operation when it is not desired to mark the closed cans. Novel features of the marking mechanism may however be separately used or embodied in other machines.

The invention consists in the parts and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In order to make the invention more.

clearly understood there are shown in the ac companymg drawmgs means for carrying the same into practical effect, Without lin1iting the improvements, in their useful applications, to the particular constructlon which,

for the purpose of example, have been made tion, the plane of section being in line with the axis of the seaming head.

Fig. 2 is a plan view on the plane II-II of Fig. l of a portion of the main feed table, and of the can end feeding and marking mechanism. I

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism whereby the can controls the feeding of the can end and the marking of the same.

'Figf l is a vertical transverse section on line IV-IV of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a'plan View of the part shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a detail view, in rear elevation, of certain of the parts shownin Fig. 5.

Fig.6 is an elevation partly in section,

adjustable to operate there awaits the can body as it rises The can is indicated in dotted lines at w. 87 is the rotary seaming head, to which each can is presented by a bottom lifter, plunger or chuck 84, the can being thereby elevated from the feed chain, centered with the seam; ing head, caused to receive its marked end, held in the seaming head until the end is seamed on, and then lowered to the still moving chain where it is received and conveyed away by one of the extracting fingers 125. The feed chain is drivenconstantly in one direction by a sprocket 50 on a vertical shaft 55, which is actuated by a chain 57 from the vertical cam shaft 59 of the machine. The lifter 84 is actuated in proper time from the same shaft. The seaming head is vertically on cans of different heights, and its first and second operation rolls'"159, 159 are radially adjustable and operable as required. Further description of this part of the mechanism is not necessary to an understanding of the invention, as any suitable can feeding and seaming devices may be employed.

Secured at one end to the under side of the seaming head casing 131 and extending outwardly therefrom and overhanging the main conveying table 21 of the machine, is a can end feed bracket 250. This bracket has a channel or track 251 machined in its upper face which corresponds in shape in cross section to the cross section of a can end sothat the top surface of a can end being conveyed along the said track will be flush with the surface of the bracket 250. The track 251 extends inwardly and terminates in a circular aperture 252 in the bracket 250 axially beneath the seaming head 87 and over the can lifter 84. Thecan end is deposited over this aperture by a feeding mechanism presently to be described, and under the action ofthe can. lifter 84, being of a larger diameter before seaming than the said aperture. tering device-for the can as it is elevated to the seaming head, being flared or beveled atthe under side of the bracket, as shown at 252 (Fig. 1). Secured to the bracket 250 and above the track 251 is a casing or cover 253, which forms the support for a can end stack holder 254, the latter being located above the outermost end of the track or channel 251. The casing 253, beneath the can end holder 254, has a circular aperture 254:, therein to permit the can ends to descend vertically from the holder 254- to the track 251 and into position to have the lowermost one separated from the stack and conveyed along the said track to the marking device, which will be described later.

In the bracket 250 and substantially in the center of the track251 is a longitudinal slot or passageway 255 which extends down through the bracket and the sides of which end Said aperture forms a cenever, the slide 257 commences wardlyalong its guide-way, the cam surface are horizontally recessed as at 256 and form the supporting'and guiding means for a reciprocating 'sllde 257, the sides of which are so shaped as to engage within the horizontal recesses 256. ,The slide 257' is preferably formed in two parts, a lower and longer finger bar 258 and an upper and shorter carrier bar 259. Pivoted to the inner extremity of the finger bar 258 is a can end engaging finger 260 which extends upwardly above the-surface of the track 251 and in the path of the can ends. This finger is normally held in its upward and engaging position by a leaf spring 261 which bears against an outwardly projecting mg 262 on the finger 260. The inner and can end engaging shoulder 264 of the carrier bar is provided with a steel fin 265 which extends inwardly slightly and projects over the can when the latter is engaged and serves to some extent to assist in separating the lowermost one of the nested can ends from the stack prior to extracting it from beneath the stack and conveying it to the marking device.

Mounted upon the bracket 250 upon an eccentric adjusting pivot 266 and located at on: side of the passageway 255, is a .lever 26. separating, knife 268 while the other end thereof carries a roller 269 which bears against the edge of the carrier bar 259, and coacts with a recess 270, in the form of a cam or inclined ,surface 271, in the latter. The roller 269 is yieldably held against the side of the carrier bar 259 by a spring 272, one end of, which is attached to the inner end of the lever 267 and the other end thereof secured to the bracket 250. It will be seen that when the slide 257 is moved'to its outermost position the roller 269 under theaction of the spring 272 will engage in the recess 270 in the carrier bar 259, allowin the separating knife 268 to move lateralfv from beneath the stack of nested can ends and permitting the same to descend and rest upon the track 251. When, howto move in- 271 will engage the roller 269 and force the same out of the recess 270' until it bears against the straight side of the carrier bar 259. This outward movement of the roller 269 overcomes the spring 272 and turns the lever 267 about its pivot, causing the separating knife 268 to enter between the edges of the can ends in the stack and above the bottom one, cutting out the latter from its nested position and at the same time lifting the remainder of the stack and supporting the same clear of the carrier bar 259 as it conveys a single can end so separated along the track to the marking device. Located in the bracket 250 and at a point midway between the can end feeding and seaming stations, and extending at right angles to the track 251, is or may be a can end marking device denoted as a whole by the numeral 273. The said markingdevice 27 3 consists of a qlie holding base 274 preferabl in the form of a slide, and having upon eac. side thereof flanges 275 which engage corresponding undercut recesses 276 adapted to receive them in the sides of a slot 277 in the bracket 250. The upper face of the inner end of the base 274 is laterally recessed as at 278to receive a series of male (or female) dies 279. Adjacent the dies 279 and secured to the base 274 by a screw 280 is a die clamping bar 281 with an undercut wall 282 which, acting with a similar undercut 283 in the opposite wall of the ."ecess 278, prevents any upward movement of the type or dies 279. This clamping bar 281 has upon its upper face a series of signs or marks which, in connection with the dies 279, form part of the identification marks impressed upon the can ends. In order to prevent the lateral displacement of the dies 279 and to also provide means for lateral adjustment of the said dies, there are screwed into each side of the base 274 cap screws 284 the heads of which project over the ends of the dies 279 and hold them in their required position. By loosening up upon one screw and tightening up on the other the dies 279 may be shiftedalong the recess 278 until they register with corresponding female or male dies upon the upper die holder.

Integral with the base 274 at its outer end and projecting upwardly therefrom is a lug 285. The base of this lug is undercut as at 286 to permit the passage of can ends over the base 274 and its dies 279. Secured to the bracket 250 and extending upwardly is a bracket 287 which at its upper end fits into and is secured to the seaming head casin 131 at 287'. Passin ,through this bracket 287 is a pin 288 which engages an aperture 289 in the upper part of the lug 285 and serves to removably hold the marking device in its stamping position. Pivoted to the lower and outer part of the lug 285 are two inwardly extending arms 290 which constitute part of an upper die holder 291'which. maybe bifurcated as illustrated. On the under side of the upper die holder 291 are two downwardly projecting flanges 292 with horizontal recesses 293 on their inner faces adapted to receive a series of female (or male) dies 294 which regis er with the male-dies 279 in the base 274. Adjaccnt to the dies 294 is a clamping bar 295 which registers with the lower clamping bar 281 and carries the female elements of the identification marks. In order to prevent lateral displacement of the female dies 294 and the,,clamping bar 29.5 there is provided a holder fork 297 which is removably secured 302 to one arm of a lever or rocker arm 303, which is pivotally mounted as at 304 on the seaming head casing 1.31. The pin 300 is removably held in position by a leaf spring 305 the upper end of which yieldably bears against the head 306 of the pin while the lower end of the said spring 305 is secured to the outside of one of the lugs 299 by a screw 307. The head 306 of the pin is flattened on one side as at 308 which rests against a projection 309 on the lug 299, thus being prevented from rotating and working the spring 305 from off the head.

The rocker arm 303 extends rearwardly and is vertically adjustably connected by lock nuts 310 and a.swivel connection 311 to a marker adjusting rod 312, (Fig. 6). The upper end of the said marker rod is flattened along one side and a graduated scale stamped thereon as at 313. This scale is used only when the seaming head casing 131 is raised or lowered to accommodate cans of a larger or smaller size, consequently raising or lowering the pivot 304 of the rocker arm 303.

Pivotally mounted as indicated at 314 upon the main framework 1' of the machine and below the feed table 21 is a rocker arm 315 one arm of which carries a roller 316 which engages undera revolving cam 317 mounted on the lowermost end of the vertical driving sprocket shaft 55. A coiled spring 318 serves to normally hold the said roller 316 in contact with the cam 317. The rocker arm 315 extendsrearwardly and is pivotally secured to the lower extremity of the marker rod 312 by means of .a lower swivel connection 319 through whichthe said marker rod extends and is secured by a nut 320,

Around the marker rod 312 and bearing upon the upper surface of the swivel 319 is a coiled compression sprin 321 which also bears at its upper end against a sleeve .322 threaded on said rod and which is locked in position by a lock nut It will be noticed that as the cafm 317 revolves, it oscillates the rockenarm 315 which in turn recipr ocates the marker rod 312, whichoscillates the upper rocker arm 303 which, through the medium of the link 301, operates the marking device 273. It willv also be noticed that the force which is applied to the marker 273 is transmitted through the medium of the coiled spring 321 and is therefore cushioned to a sufiicient extent. This method is adopted in order to prevent the marring or defacing of the dies in the marker should they be out of alinement, and also to eliminate any danger of cutting or in any way puncturing the can end during the stamp ing operation,

Secured to the under side of the seaming head casing 131 and extending outwardly therefrom is a can end feed lever bracket terminating ,in a vertical bearing 325. Suspended beneath this bearing is a can end feed lever 326 which is supported by a stud shaft 327 which is integral therewith and which extends upwardly and is journaled in the said bearing 325 (Fig. 4).' The can end feed lever 326 is preferably of inverted channel bar form and forms a housing 328 for a can end feed lever a-rm This arm 329 is pivoted as indicated at 330 between the flanges of the housing 328. The lever arm 329 is normally held in a raisedposition by a coiled spring 331 located near the inner or rear end of the lever arm. Thehpward movement of the outer extremity of the said lever arm 329 is regulated by a set screw 332 in the lever arm housing 328. The said lever arm 329 extends outwardly and. beneath the'can end feed bracket. 250 and feed slide, engaging two pins 333 and 334 (Fig. 1) located on the under side of the finger bar' 258 and which project downwardly therefrom upon each side of the lever arm 329. The forward pin 334 is slightly shorter than the rear pin 333 and is beveled as indicated at It will be apparent that when the lever arm 321) moves forward toward the seaming station it will engage the shorter pin 334 thereby causing the slide 257 to move forward, and upon the backward movement of the said arm. 329 the same will engage the longer pin 333 and cause the slide 257 to move rearwardly and into position to extract another can end from beneath the stack.

It will be apparent that as the slide 257 is reciprocated the shouldei 264 of the carrier bar 259 will extract the separated can end from beneath the stack and convey it along the track 251 to the marker 273, where it is deposited and left between the stamping dies of the same. The slide then returns and upon its next forward stroke the finger 260 of the finger bar258 will remove the can end previously deposited in the marker and stamped, from thesaid marker and carry it to the centering device where it is deposited over the aperture 252 and in a position to be engaged by a can body and scanned thereon.

While the finger bar 258 has been removing;

the stamped can end from the marker to the seaming head, the carrier bar 259 has extracted another can end from beneath the stack and deposited it in the marker where it has been stamped and is waiting to be de livered to the seaming head by the finger bar. By this method there is a constant and the latch arm 341.

successive feeding of marked can ends to the seaming station without the loss of time.

In order to prevent the can end from riding backward out of the marker, upon the bar 258 on the backward stroke of the same and after the can end has once been de posited there by the said carrier bar 259,

there is provided in the casing 253 and ad-.

jacent the marker 273 a pin 336. This pin projects downwardly through the casing 253 and has its lower end beveled as at 337. The upper end of the pin 336 engages a leaf spring 338 (Fig. 1) which serves to yieldably hold the said pin in its downward and can end engaging position. \Vhile a can end is conveyed into the marker by the carrier bar 259 it engages the beveled surface 337 of the pin 336 forcing the latter upward and allowing the can end to pass beneath. But upon the rearward stroke of the carrierbar the can end engages the straight edge of the pin 336 and is thus prevented from moving rearwardly out of the marker.

The wearing surfaces of the bearing 325 are protected by a tubular bushing 339 having at its upper extremity a collar 340 which forms a bearing surface for a lever latch arm 341 which is mounted u on the upper end of the stud shaft 327. he lever 326 and its shaft 327 are supported in the hearing 325 by a washer 342, which is secured by a screw 343 to the upper end of the stud shaft 327 and rests upon the latch arm 341. Pivoted to the outer end of sa'id latch arm 341 by a pivot pin 344 is an eccentric rod connection 345 into which is threaded an eccentric rod 346. The said eccentric rod extends across the machine and is secured to an eccentric strap 347 which passes around an eccentric 348 fixed upon the vertical cam shaft 59. Beneath the latch arm 341 and preferably integral therewith is a downwardly extending web or flange 349 which terminates in a latch housing 350. Vertically slidablymounted within the said hous-' ing 350 is a latch block 351 of hardened steel having its lower face beveled at an angle of about 45 as indicated at 352. Integral with the top of said latch 351 is a latch rod 353 which extends vertically through an apcrture in the latch arm 341. Encircling the latch rod 353, and confined between the arm 341 and! an adjusting nut 354 on the said latch rod is a compression spring 355 which has a tendency to normally yieldably hold the latch 351 in engagement with a recess 356 designed to receive it in a plate 357 of hardened Steel secured to the lever arm 326. The upper end of the latch rod 353 is notched as at 358 to receive the edge of a latch stop 359 pivoted on the upper side of When the latch 351 is normally in engagement with the recess 356, the said notch 358 is below the surface of the latch arm 341 and out of engagement with the latch stop 359. It will be apparent that under the normal strain of operating the machine the pressure of the spring 355 will suflice to keep the latch 351 in engagement with the recess 356, and in consequence the latch arm 341 and the lever arm 329 will be oscillated as a unit by the eccentric 348. But should anything break or become clogged or jammed in the mechanism of the can end feed mechanism the unusual strain caused thereby will cause the latch 351 to be forced out of its engaging recess 356, at the same time raising the latch rod. 353 enough to bring the notch 358 into alinement with the latch stop 359, which will instantly, under the pressure of a leaf spring 360, engage the said notch, preventing the latch 351 from again registering with its recess 356, from which it results that the eccentric 348 will oscillate only the latch arm 341 without operating the lever arm 329. This will continue until the obstruction in the machine is removed or. the powerturned off. When it is desired to again operate the machine the stop 359 is released, allowing the latch under theaction of the spring 355 to return to its normal engagement with the recess 356, causing the disconnected parts to again osczillate as a unit and operating the slide 25 Pivoted to the under side of the bracket 324 is a can end freed index lever 361 (Fig. 5) having a long arm 362 and a short arm 363 extending at substantially right angles to each other. The arm 362 extends outwardly and over the lever arm housing 323 and is provided on its under side and at its outer end with a cam 364. This cam engages a pin 365 projecting vertically from the lever arm 329 through an aperture 366 in the lever arm housing 328 and tends to normally depress the outer end of the saidlever arm and hold the same out of engagement with the forward and shorter pin 334 in the finger bar 258. Secured to the arm 363 of the said index lever 361 is a connecting rod 367 which extends across the machine beneath seaming head casing 131, and which is held up in a horizontal position by a guiding support 367 attached to said casing.

Mounted upon the table 21 near the recciving end thereof and'adjacent the path of the cans passing to the seaming station is a bracket 368 in which is mounted a vertical stud shaft 369, which is integral with a can-controlled trip lever 370 which rests upon the table 21 and which projects across the path of the cans beneath the can guides and which is actuated by the passing cans. Adjustably mounted by means of a clamp bolt 371 upon the stud shaft 369 and below the bracket 368 is a vertical lever arm 372 which engages a notch 373 in an arm connection 374 to which is secured the end of the connecting rod 367. It will be apparent that through this construction the lever arm 329 will normally oscillate to and fro without reciprocating the slide 257, but as soon as a can body passing along its track engages the trip. lever 370, it will force the same inward (Fig. 2) thereby throwing the vertical lever 372 about its pivot, causing the arm 362 of the cam lever 361, through the medium of the connecting rod 367, to be moved from its engaging position above the pin 365 in the can end feed arm 329 (Fig. 5) allowing the same to rise under the action of the coiled spring 331 to its. engaging position-with the short pin 334 in the finger bar 258, which can then be moved forward by the arm 329. )Vhen the arm reaches a point near the limit of its throw, the housing 328 will engage a set screw 375 mounted in a downward projecting lug 376 on the under side of the can end feed lever 361, causing the latter to be rotated about its pivot and causing the longer arm 362 thereof to again be moved l'gack to its normal position over the path of the pin 365. Now when the can end feed lever arm- 329 returns on its backward movement the pin 365 will engage under the cam 364 on the lever arm 362 causing the lever arm 329 to be depressed out of engagement with theshorter pin 334 on the finger bar 258. The arm will continue to oscillate about its pivot (supposing the feeding of cans to be interrupted) being depressed each time when it reaches a point near the limit of its backward movement. This will continue with out any actuationof the can end feed slide until another can actuates the can-controlled trip lever 370 causing the arm 362 and its cam 364 to be thrown out of the path of thepin 365. It will be noticed that the lever "arm 329 is'not depressed low enough to prevent it from engaging the longer pin 333 o1rtl1e finger bar 258, which pin is only encountered by the lever arm 329 on its returnsor backward movement and which is designed only to return the-slide 257 to its outward position. lt will also be noticed that the can end feed "mechanism is thrown into operation by each individual can as it actuates the can-controlled lever and is thrown out of engagement as soon as the can end is fed to the seaming station; and if a can body is not in position to be closed a can end will not be fed to the seaming station.

By seaming head I include various can end attaching means. Such means may be a clencher which crimps the head loosely on to a can, all around the circumference or in spots. Also when the seaming head is used, only the first operation or curling roll may be put in operation, the complete hermetic seaming by the second operation being done by any suitable means after processing'the filled and partly or loosely closed can; and

the words closing machine are not limited to a machine which hermetically closes",

the cans.

In the canning industry questions occasionally arise as to who is responsible for the loss of canned goods by spoiling, and whether the fault was'in the closing means or mechanism. In such cases it is of great importance to know all or some of the following facts, namely, by whom and at what time and by what machines cans were closed. My invention makes it possible to know and be able to prove the necessary facts with conclusiveness because it makes the marking and the closing practically a single operation, and any indicating marks can be readily applied to the can ends which are necessary for the purposes in view. and these marks can be changed from time to time as required. This is not the case however where can ends can be marked without the advance of the can body and the union of the same with the can end, as can be done by machines which do not comprise a can body control of the feed of the can ends in combination with the marker, and there. is a disposition to economize by utilizing at some other time (so that positive identification .is lost) can ends which have been fed and marked but whichpass out of the ma chine without having been applied to can bodies because there were vacant spaces in theproeession of advancing can bodies, so that can bodies were not presented for union with all of the marked can ends.

This application is a division of my copending application'Serial No. 64,494, tiled Dec. 1, 1915.

What is claimed is 2-- l. In a can closing and marking machine, in combination: a seaming head; a bottom plunger cooperating therewith; a can centering device arranged between the said seaming head and bottom plunger: can end .feeding mechanism having a track leading to said centering device and having means for depositing can ends in the said centering device; a'can end n'iarker arranged in the path of the can ends to said centering device, said marking device comprising die holding members: and means for operating one of said members.

,2. In a can closing and marking machine, in combination: a seaming head: a bottom phinger coiiperating therewith: a can centering device arranged between the. sa d seaming head and bottom plunger: a two motion can end feeding mechanism having a track leading to said centering device and having means for depositing can ends successively at an intermediate point and in said centering device; a. can end marker arranged in the path of the can ends to said. centering device; said marking device com prising die holding base member, an up per actuated die holdiiig member; and means for operating said upper member.

3. In a can closing and marking machine, in combination: a seaming head; a bottom plunger cooperating therewith; acan centering device arranged between the said seaming head and bottom plunger; can end feeding mechanism having a track leading to said centering device and having means for depositing can ends in said centering device; a can end marker arranged in the path of the can ends to said centering device: said marking device comprising a stationary die holding base member fixed in the said track. an upper actuated die holding member; and means for member.

4. In a can closing andimarking machine, in combination: a seaming head; a bottom plunger and continuously moving can conveyer coiiperating therewith; a can centering device arranged between the said seaming head and bottom plunger: can end feeding mechanism having a track leading to said centering device and having means for depositing can ends in said centering device; a can end marker arranged in the path of the can ends to said centering device; said marking device comprising a stationary die holding base member fixed in the said track, an upper actuated die holding member; and- .means connected with the can conveyer for operating said upper member.

In a can closing and marking machine, in combination: a rotary seaming head; a vertically reciprocable bottom plunger located beneath said seamin head and coiipcrating therewith: a can carrying chain having can propelling projections, ada 'ited to deliver can bodies to and away flplll said bottom plunger and scanning head; a can centering device arranged between said seaming head and bottom plunger; a can end magazine adjacent. said centering device: can end feeding mechanism adapted to deliver can ends from said. magazine to the said centering device; a can end marker arranged at an intermediate point between aid centering device and magazine at which point the said can ends successively pause on their way to the said centering device; and means for operating saidcan end marker. can carrying cl ain. seaming bead. bottom plunger and can end feeding mechanism.

6. In a can closing and marking machine. in combination: a rotary seaming head: a

vertically rcciprocable bottom plunger located beneath said seaming head and coop crating therewith: a continuously moving can carrying chain. adapted to deliver can bodies to and away from said bottom plunger and seaming head; a can centering device arranged between said seaming head and bottom plunge a can end magazine adjacent said centering device; can end feedyicldingly operating said upper lift) ing mechanism adapted to deliver can ends from said magazine to the said centering device; a can end marker arranged at an intermediate point between said centering device and magazine at which point the said can ends successively pause on their way to the said centering device; and means for operating said can end marker, can "carrying chain, seaming head, bottom plunger and can end feeding mechanism.

7. In a can closing and marking machine, in combination: a rotary seaming head; a vertically reciprocable bottom plunger located beneath said seaming head and cooperating therewith; a continuously moying can carrying chain, adapted to deliver can bodies to and away from said bottom plunger and seaming head a can centering device arranged between said seaming head and bot tom punger; a can end magazine adjacent said centering device; can end feeding mechanism' adapted to deliver can ends from said magazine to the said centering device; a can end. marker having a fixed lower marking member arranged at an intermediate point between said centering device and magazine at which point the said can ends successively pause on their way to the said centering 'device; and means for operating said can end marker, can carrying chain, seaming head, bottom plunger and can end feeding mechanism.

8. In a can closing and marking machine, in combination: a rotary seaming head; a vertically reciprocable bottom lun er' located beneath said seaming heat and 0065perating therewith; a continuously moving can carrying chain, adapted to deliver can bodies to and away from said bottom plunger and seaming head; a can centering device arranged between said seaming head and bottom plunger; a can end magazine adjacent said centering device; can end feeding mechanism adapted to deliver can ends from said magazine to the said centering device; a can end marker arranged at an intermediate point-between said centering device and magazine at which point the said can ends successively pause on their way to the said centering device; means for operat ing said can carrying chain, seaming head, bottom plunger and can end feeding mechanism; and a cam on the chain shaft for actuating said marker.

9. In a can closing machine, in combination: a can feeding mechanism; a can lifter or bottom plunger; a rotary seaming head above said lifter; a centering device arranged bctween said lifter and seaming head; a can end feedingmechanism having a track leading to said centering device. and mechanism arranged to deliver can ends thereto, and to deposit them preliminarily at an intermediate station; a can end marker arranged at said station in line with said seaming head and in the path of the can ends; and means for actuating said marker to stamp a can end during the interval while the preceding can end is being seamed to a can.

10. The combination of a can end marker means for feeding can ends to said marker for the purposes of being marked and of thereafter being united with can bodies, means for uniting can ends with can bodies, means for feeding can bodies for the purpose of being thereafter united with those can ends which have been marked, and meanscontrolled by the can bodies whereby it is insured that said marked can ends are not advanced unless a can body is advanced to be united with each can end so marked.

11. In a can closing and marking machine, in combination: a seaming mechanism; a can conveyer; a reciprocating can end feeding mechanism; a can end marker arranged in the path of the can ends to said seaming mechanism; and means for holding the can end beneath the marker from backward movement.

12. In a can'seaming and marking machine, in combination: a seaming head a,

vertically reciprocating bottom plunger cooperating therewith; a can centering device interposed between said seaming head and bottom plunger; a can end conveying track leading to said centering device; a can end marker secured toand operating in the path of the can ends along said track; said marking device comprising a lower stationary die holding jaw and, an upper and actuated die holding j aw pivoted to and cooperating with said lower stationary jaw member; a guide member adapted to insure a proper. alinement of the upper and lower die holding jaws; and means-for operating said marking device.

13. In a can end marki'ngdevice for a can closing machine, in combination: a lower and stationary male die holding base member; an upper and actuated female die holding member pivoted to and cooperating with said base member; male and female dies carried by saidbase member and actuated member respectively; die clamping bars adjacent said male and female dies, said clamping bars carrying respectively male and female identification marks; means. for retaining and laterally adjusting said male dies in said base member; a fork member arranged to retain said female dies in the upper actuated die holding member; means for removably secured said markingdevice in the can closing machine; and means for yieldingly operating the said marking device.

14. In a can closing and marking machine, in combination: a can-end attaching means; can end feeding mechanism having a track leading to said can end attaching means and having means for depositing can ends between the can and the said attaching means; a can end marker arranged in the path of the can ends as they move on said track, said marking device comprising die holding members; and means for operating one of said members.

15. In a can closing and n'iarking machine in combination: a can end attaching means; a can end marker; can end feeding mechanism having a track leading directly to said can end-attaching means and past the said can end marker; means for actuating the can end feed. mechanism to feed can ends to the marker and thence directly to said can end attaching means; and means for actuating said marker.

16. In a' can end marking device, in combination: a lower and stationary male die holding base member; an upper and actuated female die holding memberpivoted to and" cooperating with said base member; male and female dies carried by said base member and actuated member respectively;

.die clamping bars adjacent said male and female dies, said clamping bars carrying respectively male and female identification marks: means for retaining and laterally adjusting said male dies in said base memher; a fork member arranged to retain said female dies in the upper actuated die holding member; and means for yieldingly operating the said marking device.

17. In a can closing and marking machine,the combinationof seaming mechanism, a horizontally immovable support for can ends situated in operative alinement with and underneath said seaming mechanism and having a tapered aperture for the reception of can bodies and a recess for the reception of can ends; a marking station, a movable member for advancing can ends to said marking station and then to said recess in said can end support; a conveyer for advancing can bodies underneath and into alinement with the tapered aperture in said support, cooperating mechanism for causing a can body to enter said aperture in said support and pass into contactassembly with a can end in said recess in said support, and to further cause said assembled can end and can body to be operated on by said seaming mechanism; whereby they are united and ejected from said aperture.

18. In a can closing. and marking machine, the combination of seaming mechanism, a horizontally immovable support for can ends situated in operative alinement with and underneath said seaming mechanism and having a tapered aperture for the reception of can bodies and a recess for the reception of can ends; a marking station, a movable member for advancing can ends to said marking station and then to said recess in said can end support; a conveyer for advancing can bodies underneath and into wease alinementwith the tapered aperture in said support, cooperating mechanism for causing a can body to enter said aperture in said support and pass into contact assembly with a can end in said recess in said support, and to further cause said assembled can end and can body to be operated on by said seaming mechanism; whereby theyare united by an interlocking seam, and withdrawn from said aperture, and conveyed away from said machine.

19. In a can closing and marking machine, the combination of seaming mechanism, a horizontally immovable support for can endls situated in operative alinement with and underneath said seaming-.mechanism having a tapered aperture for the reception of can bodies and arecess for the reception of can ends; a marking station, a movable member for advancing can ends to said marking station and then to said recess in said can end support; a continuously movingconveyer for advancing can bodies underneath and into alinement with the tapered aperture in' said support, 00- operating mechanism for causing a. can body to enter said aperture in said support and pass into contact assembly with a can end in said recess in said support, and to further cause said assembled can end and can body to be operated on by said seaming mechanism; whereby they are united and withdrawn from said aperture and replaced on said continuously moving conveyer.

20; In a can closing and marking machine. the combination of seaming mechanism, a support for can ends, situated in operative alinement with and underneath said seaming mechanism, having a tapered aperture for the reception of can bodies and a recess .for the reception of can ends; a can end marking station, a movable member for advancing can ends to said marking station and then to said recess in said can end support; means for advancing can'bodies underneath and into alinement with thetapered aperture in said support, cooperating mechanism for causing a can body to enter said aperture in said support and pass into contact assembly with a can end in said recess in said support, and to further cause said assembled can end and can body to be operated on by said seaming mechanism; whereby they are united and ejected from said aperture.

21. In a can closing and marking machine, in combination; means for uniting can ends to can bodies; a can end conveying mechanism for moving can ends to said uniting means; a can body conveying mechanism for moving can bodies to said uniting means; and a can end marking mechanism; all so synchronized and adjusted that the can end conveying mechanism moves can ends successively to and past said can end marking mechanism whereby can ends are given a distinguishing mark during the period of their passage toward said uniting means; and said can body conveying mechanism moves t can body to said uniting means each time a an end is so moved; means for actuating said marking device to contact with said can ends and to mark the said can ends; and can body-actuated means for determining the moving of can ends whereby can ends and can bodies are moved in unison to said uniting means.

22. In a can closing and marking machine in combination; means for uniting can ends to can bodies; means for marking can ends; means for conveying can ends and can bodies to said uniting means; all of said means being so arranged and synchronized that can ends are successively conveyed to and past said can end marking means whereby said can ends are given distinguishing marks during the period of their passage toward said uniting means; and can bodies are conveyed successively toward said uniting means each time a can end is so conveyed; means for actuating said marking devices to contact with said can ends when marking the same; and can body-actuated means for determining the conveying of can ends and can bodies in unison to said uniting means.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature hereto.

PAUL W. FLEISCHER. 

